While drops of food coloring will enhance the layers of this patriotic July 4th cheesecake, its stripes are tinted naturally with seasonal flavors: red raspberry, white vanilla bean and blue blueberry. The fresh blueberry topping is held together with just enough gelatin to give it a gorgeous, glossy look and to make it easy to cut. In order to achieve the clean layers you’ll need to have some time to let each one set, so plan in advance. It is super easy and completely worth the extra time to present such a fun dessert at your holiday party.

To celebrate National Cheesecake Day today, The Cheesecake Factory is serving up their new Oreo Dream Extreme Cheesecake. Extreme is definitely the operative word in that title. The fudge- and Oreo cream mousse-layered cheesecake is studded with baked-in Oreos, topped with milk chocolate icing and encrusted in chocolate chips.

Heavy is a good way to describe this sugar monster, both in terms of sheer weight (seriously, a slice feels like it weighs five pounds) and effect on your stomach. We also found the Oreo chunks to be a little jarring because they were such a contrast to the overall creaminess. Of course none of these factors were disconcerting enough not to devour the entire utterly delicious thing in one sitting. If only Oreos had any nutritional value whatsoever, a slice could work as meal replacement for the next few days.

If you live by a Cheesecake Factory, you can try it for yourself starting today. But if you’re like us, you’ll use this grand holiday as an excuse to make your own. All food tastes better when made in a home rather than a factory. After the jump, get recipes for some of our most popular cheesecakes.

We love summer. But let’s face it, the sunny season has some drawbacks. It can be hot, sticky and full of sunburns and mosquitoes. A Grain of Paradise promises theseberry cheesecake ice popswill make it all better whenever you get hit by the summer doldrums.

The Mighty Girl is determined to try 1,000 different types of fruits in her lifetime. While we may not be quite as ambitious, we’re excited to try her top 10.

St. Patrick’s day is a time to turn everything green in honor of the Irish Saint. This creamy cheesecake with festive green stripes is perfect to serve after corned beef, cabbage and a Guinness. Using fresh mint makes the rich cake as bright in flavor as it is in appearance.